‘S Wonderful: An Evening with George Gershwin
An anxiety-ridden genius at the peak of his career, George Gershwin, grapples in deep self-doubt with the meaning and legacy of his life’s work as he awaits the early-hour reviews of his riskiest writing endeavor: Porgy and Bess.
On the opening night of Porgy and Bess, at the end of a raucous after-party at George Gershwin’s lavish home, George finds himself riddled with anxiety and utterly alone. Unable to stand the quietude while awaiting the early morning reviews, he distracts himself by talking through the entire musical journey that led up to this moment. Throughout his career, George has struggled to find the “new American sound,” a perfect balance that reflects the lives and cultures of America, while maintaining the precision and sophistication of classical music. He calls this quest a struggle between the “head” and the “heart.” From his youngest days growing up in New York City, discovering jazz, and working in Tin Pan Alley and the Follies, through Broadway, falling in love, studying in Europe, and becoming a pioneer of American music, George takes us through his experimentations, his successes, and his failures in story and music. All of this culminates in this opening night of an opera that he hopes has finally captured the spirit and sounds of America, told onstage through the voices of Black Americans singing a new combination of classical music and jazz. Having staked his entire reputation on this show and its performance by a cast of Black artists, despite mounting pressure, all George can do now is wait and hope he has finally found success.
Details:
Genre - Solo show, One-Man Show, One-Person Show, Classic Musical Theatre
Musical Styles - Jazz, Follies, Vaudeville, Classic Broadway, Classical
Subjects & Themes - Artistic fulfillment, Finding your voice, Legacy, Music, Making an impact
Content Warnings - This musical discusses themes of race (Black representation specifically) from the viewpoint of early 20th century white affluent culture
Cast Size - 1
Cast Requirements - The actor playing George must be able to play the pieces on piano, sing, and act the entire show (an 85-minute monologue)
Length - 80 minutes (no intermission)
Target Audience - Creatives, classical music lovers, classical musical theatre lovers, fans of the Gershwins, lovers of vaudeville, lovers of the Follies, lovers of early jazz
Production & Development:
February 2021 - First Reading (Online)
March 2021 - Developmental Reading (Online for The Spark File)
April 25th , 2021 - Developmental Reading (Online for Bristol Valley Theater)
August 21st, 2021 – September 4th, 2021 - Premiere Production – Bristol Valley Theater (Naples, NY)
This show is through development and is production-ready.
Email Directly or Inquire Below
emradi@musicaltheatrewritingcollective.com
New York, NY
Contact The Team
‘S Wonderful: An Evening with George Gershwin is currently available for production!
Please inquire if you are interested in reviewing materials, perusing the script, hearing audio recordings, or interested in producing the show!
